A sickening crunch filled the air as Hektor’s back slammed against the ground. Jason walked over and crouched next to him.

“You’re really tough for a runt, but surely you have to give up at some point.”

“I’m not done yet.”

“But you’re injured!” said Nikolae. “With a punch like that, you shouldn’t be fighting anymore!”

“I said, I’m not done!”

Hektor pushed himself off the ground and put some distance between him and Jason. All his muscles were screaming at him to give up and run away. Yet he knew he couldn’t run, not when Jason could easily catch up to him.

“Spirits…how many times does he need to hit you before you give up? Stop holding back, Jason!”

“Huh? I, um—yes, sir!”

Jason’s face was a mix of confusion and anger. Damn right, he should because Hektor was feeling the same way. Somehow he could still stand firm despite Jason hitting him with enough force to shatter his bones. His current physique shouldn’t have allowed this, at least under normal conditions. He glanced at the ring on his finger. Did the ring do something more than just bring him back to the past? He decided on a gamble and closed his eyes. Sure enough, he could sense the flow of spirit energy throughout his skin. There might be a chance for Hektor if his guess was correct.

“Looks like he might be about to give up, boss.” Jason sounded impatient. “Should I do him in now?”

“What did I say, you numbskull? Just do it—Ow!”

“Enough!”

Hektor opened his eyes. To his surprise, Nikolae stood in front of him, arms wide to block Jason’s path.

“I can’t stand this anymore. Stop this, you two!”

“What makes you think you can stop me?” Peter sneered while rubbing his arm. “Now move before you get hurt.”

“So what? I can’t let you hurt him anymore. I’ll take him back even if I have to get through you and Jason to do it.”

Hektor grinned. He did not expect Nikolae to fight back, but he couldn’t complain now that Nikolae had the guts to resist. Nor could he run away to abandon someone who couldn’t fight.

“Um.” Jason turned to Peter. “Should I stop now?”

Peter stamped his foot on the ground. “Did I say to stop? Just beat him up too! I’ll tell father he fell off a tree.”

Jason shrugged and wound up his fist for a punch.

“Nothing personal, Nikolae. You can only blame yourself for this.”

Hektor’s jaw dropped.

He couldn’t put Nikolae in danger. He pulled the boy back, narrowly avoiding Jason’s wild swing. Jason attempted another punch aimed at Hektor’s face.

Hektor’s lips curled upward.

Just as planned.

A loud crunch resounded through the forest.

“Graah!” Jason howled in pain and stepped back, clutching his broken arm.

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“What did you do, Hektor?” Nikolae stared at Hektor in disbelief. “What is that shell in front of you?”

Hektor did not answer, for he was too busy jumping for joy in his head. His gamble paid off. Although he could sense the flow of spirit energy in his body, he had no guarantee that he could use any of his techniques. But that fear appeared to be for naught given the results. The ethereal shell in front of his head was the most basic of his spirit beast’s manifestation techniques—[Shell Shield], the ability to deploy a shell-like aura for defense. When deployed at the right timing, [Shell Shield] becomes [Shell Parry] and returns the full force of the attack to its source.

Nikolae repeated the question. “What happened, Hektor? That’s a spirit technique, right?”

Peter’s screech interrupted Hektor before he could answer.

“You useless punk!” Peter smacked Jason in the back. “How’d you break your arm against this spineless brat?”

Jason didn’t respond since he was more preoccupied with his more unforeseen injury.

“Listen to me, you big oaf!”

Peter kicked Jason over, unconcerned over his lackey’s injury. It seemed Peter could not, or would not, accept the events that occurred. Fortunately, Peter’s actions served as the distraction Hektor needed. He grabbed Nikolae’s arm.

“We got to go! You’re going to need to hold on tight.”

“Eh? What do you mean? Whoa!”

Hektor whisked the boy off his feet.

“Hey, wait!”

Peter tried to bar their way, but Hektor sidestepped his lunge and sprinted towards town.

𓆉 𓆉 𓆉

Hektor stopped to catch his breath when they managed to get a reasonable distance away.

“What’s wrong, Hektor? Am I too heavy?”

Even if Nikolae was a boy, Hektor’s instinct warned him not to answer that question. Although, if he had to answer, Nikolae felt light and frail in his arms, unlike most noble people he knew. Then again, most of the noble people he met were his future classmates in the academy.

“Um, Hektor?”

“What? Oh, right. I should put you down now that we’re both safe.”

As soon as Hektor put Nikolae down, Nikolae grabbed Hektor and felt around the latter’s body.

“What the?”

“I knew it. You can channel spirit energy now. There’s no way you didn’t manage to fight Jason without a broken bone or something.”

Nikolae drew his face close to Hektor.

“How did you do it? There was no way you had access to these powers before.”

“I found a tortoise spirit in the lake when Peter and Jason threw me into it.”

“A tortoise spirit? Is that so? Talk about a lucky find.”

Hektor was relieved that Nikolae accepted his explanation. No one would believe he reincarnated from the future.

Usually, finding a wild spirit outside the spirit realm was incredibly rare, but presenting this scenario was better than telling the truth.

“Anyways, thanks for saving me.”

“It’s okay. If I let you get hurt, I might have been accused of putting you in harm’s way. You’re a noble’s kid, after all.

“I wouldn’t let that happen. I’m not like my cousin.” Nikolae looked aside with a downcast expression. “Then again, I guess you still probably don’t trust me.”

“It’s not that. I know you’re a good person.”

“Huh? But we hardly talk to each other, though?”

“Ah.” Hektor’s mind blanked out, having realized his mistake. “I mean, you were nice enough to check my body for injuries and all that.”

“I see.” Nikolae chuckled. “To thank you for saving me, I’ll talk to my uncle about Jason’s actions today. No doubt Jason will try to spin this in a way to get back at you.”

“Speaking of Jason, will you be okay later?”

“I’ve been through worse. You should get back and change your clothes. You’re still a little soaked.”

That was putting it politely. Thanks to the fight, Hektor was also caked with blood and grime. Not the most comfortable condition. Then again, this meant some of it got onto Nikolae’s side too.

“I’ll pay for the damages done to your clothing once I get the chance.”

“Wuh-what?”

“Is something wrong?”

Nikolae turned around. “No. Thank you.”

Weird. Hektor decided not to think much of Nikolae’s reaction.

“I guess this is goodbye for now.”

But before they could separate, someone else ran into the clearing from the direction of town—Selena, ten years old, same as him.

From her messy white hair, Selena probably had just gotten out of bed. Immediately, Hektor looked at her left hand and found she wore a silver ring, the same as his own.